Motor-vehicle.



*PATITNTED MAY 3l, 1904.

L; J. PHBLPS. MOTOR' VEHICLE.

'APXLIOATIOII IIL'ED APB. 9, 1903.

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N0 MODEL C i. e. fx@

I .PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

L. .J.` PHELPS. MOTOR VEHICLE.

MPL10-111431K FILED um 9,*1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

N0 MODEL.

` UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LUOIUS J PI-IELPS, OF STONEHAM, IIASSAOHUSITTS, ASSIGNOR TO PHELIS MOTOR 4VEHICLE COMPANY, OF STONEHAM, MASSACHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of lLetters Patent No. "161,398,` dated May 31, 1904.

` Application ined April 9, 190s. serai No. 151,839. (No model.)-

' of Massachusetts, have invented certain new tion and to effectively lubricate the drivingv and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification i This invention relates tothe driving mechanism of automobiles; and it has for its object to mount the motor independently of the ve-v hicle-body without employing an underframe having side reaches or an equivalent construcmechanism of a carriage so constructed.

Of thel accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional View of a motor-Vehicle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the motor and running-gear with parts in section. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the rear part of thedriving mechanism with part of the casing vthereof removed. Fig. 4

lrepresents a detail cross-section showing the oil-duct. v

The same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the body of the vehicle. 11 11 represent the swinging front or steering wheels, having their axles or knuckles swiveled or hung on a dead front axle or cross-frame 12, and 13 in Fig. 1 is one of the rear or driving wheels, which wheels are secured to independently-rotatable liveaxles 14 14, mounted in tubularhousings 1'5 15, forming a part of the running-gear or rear cross-frame of the carriage. The axles 14 enter a compensating-gear box 16, having formed thereon a bevel-gear 27.

18 denotes generically a driving-gear cas ing or frame member having three principal divisions-namely, a forward division 19, which constitutes the crank-casing of an explosion-motor 22, a middle tubular division 20 of smaller diameter, containing the major part of the length of the driving-shaft, and a rear part 21, containing the clutching and change-speed mechanism.

22 indicates the motor, and 23 indicates the clutching and change-speed mechanism. Said motor and mechanism and the compensating gear may be of any preferred construction, and being well-)known elements of motor-vehicles they are not represented in full detail. 24 is the drivin g-shaft leading from the moftor 22`to the'clutching and change-speed mech;

anism "23, and 25 is a short shaft leading from said clutching and change-speed mechanism and provlded with a bevel-pinion 26, meshingwith the bevel-gear 27. This train of elements obviously constitutes a rotary driving mechanism whereby the rotation of the motorshaftis transmitted to the rear-wheel shafts 14', so as to propel the carriage, and said mechanism is so inclosed by the casing 18 as to be protected from contact of outside'objects and substantially free from entrance of mud, dust, and water. The shaft 24 is shown as provided with a pair of crown-tooth couplings 28, de-

signed to allow for a slight difference in alinement between the two ends of the shaft which is likely to arise in practice from various causes.

The casing 18 is rigid from end to end, and

' its front end has-'a yielding support in front of the motor 22 on a transverse leaf-spring 29, whose ends are p ivotally suspended by links 30 30 fromthe ends of the front axle 12 This spring is inover the body of said axle. dependent of the springs 31 31, whereby the body 10 is yieldingly supported on the front axle 12. The {1y-Wheel 32 of the motor mayn be located, as shown, in front of the spring 29.

The rear part 21 of the easing 18 is made in detachable upper and lower halves 33 34,

secured together by bolts 35. In the lower I formed an oil-hole 40, whereby oil may be introduced into the interior of the casing, said oil, by reason of the inclination ofthe casing 18, flowlng toward its rear end and entermg the ducts 36, through which it Hows to the bearings 39, 38, and 37and lubricates the latter. In dotted lines in Figs. l and 3 there is indicated an oil-duct 41, passing from the rear coupling 28, through Which it derives oil from the interior of the casing section 20, and extending through the middle of the clutching and change-speed mechanism 23, so as to lubricate the latter.

It Will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the exact construction herein described.'

I claim- 1. In a motor-vehicle, a longitudinal casing composed of portions Vjoined on a line inclined from the horizontal,power-transmitting shafting having a bearing in said casing, and an oil-duct for the lubrication of said bearing Whose Walls are formed by the complemental meeting portions of the casing.

2. In a motor-vehicle, an inclined longitudinal tubular casing having means at its forward end for the introduction of oil which employs the interior of the casing as a channel and a motor at its forward end, mechanism traversing said casing for communicating the power ofthe motor to the driving-wheels and having a bearing at the rear end portion of the casing, and an oil-duct formed in the Wall of said casing `for conducting the oil froni the interior oi' the casing to said bearing.

3. In a motor-vehicle, a structure consisting of a cross-frame having tubular housings for the independently-rotatable driving-wheel aXles and a longitudinal casing, the interior of which forms an oil-channel, a longitudinal driving mechanism traversing and having a bearing in said casing, bearings on said structure for the respective shafts, and oil-ducts carried by said casing for the lubrication oi all of said bearings by means of the oil llowing through the interior of the casing.

In testimony whereof I have ailixcd my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

LUCIUS J. PHELPS.

Witnesses:

SILAs DEAN, SARAH A. DEAN. 

